158 ROUND ABOUT CHICAGO 



Back where the sand does not obey the wind 

 so well, there are rush-bordered sloughs between 

 the dunes that invite one at any season. In July 

 the water in the middle is starred with pond- 

 lilies, and in grape time you can gather exquisite 

 blue fringed gentians around the edges. 

 I worked very hard in a child-garden in a 

 thickly crowded part of the city one warm summer. 

 Perhaps the only thing I did worth while was to 

 take flowers and give them to the children pan- 

 sies and sweet-peas and field lilies and daisies. I 

 shall never forget the look of hushed awe and 

 reverence when I distributed water-lilies and 

 the tenderness with which the children carried 

 them away. Sedor begged for two he told me 

 why. He was never bad after that. 



It seemed a garden in the mire. But the lilies 

 gave me hope. ''Beautiful lives have sprung up 

 in the darkest places, as pure white lilies full of 

 fragrance have blossomed on stagnant waters." 

 Ah! I know whereof I speak. Out of what 

 seemed hopelessly dark, noisome pools, have 

 grown some of the whitest, purest lilies of my 

 child-garden. Some day I will tell you about 

 Emma. 



Still farther back from the lake are undrained 

 swamps on whose edges you may find fairy 



